9.15.2005

How do you deal with asshole protestors outside your abortion clinic? Do what Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania did and make those protestors work for you. Make each protestor into a little pledge-maker, the more protestors that show up, the more people give to Planned Parenthood to counteract the protesting.

Every time protesters gather outside of our Locust Street health center, our patients face verbal attacks from them. They see graphic signs meant to confuse and intimidate. They are sometimes blocked from entering the building and occasionally they are videotaped. They are offered anti-choice propaganda and free rides to the closest "crisis pregnancy center."

Staff and volunteers are also seen as targets. We are all called murderers, are lectured to about committing sins, and are told we will pay the "ultimate price" for our actions.

You can stand with others in the community against these acts of intimidation and harassment.

Here's how it works: You decide on the amount you would like to pledge for each protester (minimum 10 cents). When protesters show up on our sidewalks, Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania will count and record their number each day from October 1 through November 30, 2005. We will place a signoutside the health center that tracks pledges and makes protesters fully aware that their actions are benefiting PPSP. At the end of the two-month campaign, we will send you an update on protest activities and a pledge reminder.

Example:If you pledge 30 cents per protester, and PPSP has 100 protesters in October and 160 protesters in November, your donation would be 78 dollars for the entire two-month campaign.

Similar to sponsoring a runner in a charity marathon, your pledge total can be capped at a pre-set amount, if desired.

Its diabolical and brilliant and I hope that it drives some of the anti-abortion fanatics around the bend and off the road altogether to know their protest is being used against them.

Of course, it won't be long before they figure out how to do the same thing for the bad guys too. But you've gotta love the creative solution.Tags: abortion, pledge drive, Planned Parenthood